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Cited by 159Probiotics and Fermented FoodsInfant Nutrition and HealthGut microbiota and health

Probiotic supplementation for respiratory and gastrointestinal illness symptoms in healthy physically active individuals

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West, Nicholas P., Horn, Peggy L., Pyne, David B., Gebski, Val J., Lahtinen, Sampo J., Fricker, Peter A., Cripps, Allan W.·2014·Clinical Nutrition
DOI 10.1016/j.clnu.2013.10.002
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Abstract

Background & aims To examine the effect of supplementation with probiotics on respiratory and gastrointestinal illness in healthy active men and women.Methods A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted. Four hundred and sixty five participants (241 males; age 35 ± 12 y (mean ± SD) and 224 females; age 36 ± 12 y) were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 - Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bl-04 (Bl-04) 2.0 × 10(9)colony forming units per day, CFU per day, Group 2 - Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07 (NCFM & Bi-07) 5 × 10(9) CFU each per day) or Group 3 - placebo mixed in a drink.Results The risk of an upper respiratory illness episode was significantly lower in the Bl-04 group (hazard ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.95; P = 0.022) compared to placebo. There was no significant difference in illness risk between the NCFM & Bi-07 group (hazard ratio 0.81; 0.62-1.08; P = 0.15) and the placebo group. There was a 0.7 and 0.9 month delay in the median time to an illness episode in the Bl-04 and NCFM & Bi-07 groups respectively compared to placebo (placebo 2.5 months; Bl-04 3.2 months; NCFM & Bi-07 3.4 months). There were insufficient GI illness episodes for analysis. The NCFM & Bi-07 group but not the Bl-04 group undertook significantly more physical activity (8.5%; 6.7%-10%; P < 0.003) than the placebo group.Conclusion The probiotic Bl-04 appears to be a useful nutritional supplement in reducing the risk of URTI in healthy physically-active adults.Trial registration Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: Number ACTRN12611000130965.

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  • In an athletic population, specific probiotic strains can reduce the number of episodes, severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections.

    “In an athletic population, specific probiotic strains can reduce the number of episodes, severity and duration of upper respiratory tract infections.”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [68]

  • In 465 active individuals, supplementation with a double-strain probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and B. animalis subsp. lactis Bi-07) resulted in a 19% decrease of URTI risk, although this was not statistically significant.

    “Supplementation with the double-strain probiotic resulted in a 19% decrease of URTI risk, although this was not statistically significant.”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [68]

  • In 465 active individuals, daily B. animalis ssp. lactis Bl-04 supplementation for 150 days was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of any URTI episode compared to placebo.

    “Daily B. animalis ssp. lactis Bl-04 supplementation for 150 days was associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of any URTI episode compared to placebo supplementation.”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [68]

  • The duration of probiotic supplementation has been variable in the studies reviewed; the shortest duration lasted 7 days and the longest lasted 150 days.

    “Similar to the type of probiotic used, the duration of supplementation has also been variable in the studies reviewed (Table 3). The shortest duration lasted 7 days [75, 76] and the longest lasted 150 days [68].”

    From International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Probiotics (2019) · cites this paper as [68]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Wei LJ, Lin DY, Weissfield L. Regressionanalysis of multivariate incomplete failure time data. J Am Stat Assoc. 1989;84:1065-73.

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Authors
West, N. P., Horn, P. L., Pyne, D. B., Gebski, V. J., Lahtinen, S. J., Fricker, P. A., & Cripps, A. W.
Affiliations
  • Griffith University (AU)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • DuPont (Finland) (FI)
Corresponding author
Cripps, Allan W.
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Nutrition
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-08
Volume
33
Issue
4
Pages
581-587
ISSN
0261-5614 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.clnu.2013.10.002
OpenAlex
W2051611990
Cited by
159
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 7
FWCI
13.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Clinical Nutrition (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ResearchOnline at James Cook University (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
  • University of Canberra Research Portal (submittedVersion)
  • ANU Open Research (Australian National University) (submittedVersion)
  • Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Griffith University
  • Australian Institute of Sport
  • Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Infant Nutrition and Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
Keywords
probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, upper respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal diseases, physical activity, healthy adults, probiotic supplementation
MeSH terms
Adult, Bifidobacterium, Double-Blind Method, Female, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Humans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Male, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, New Zealand, Body Mass Index, Dietary Supplements, Probiotics, Young Adult, Healthy Volunteers

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